TV Watch: England and the United States (Nearly) Tie In Ratings

16.8 million viewers tuned in to the England-United States game on American television, broadcast on Saturday afternoon: 13 million on ABC, and 3.8 million on Univision.

17.65 million viewers tuned in to the same game on English television, broadcast in primetime on ITV.

America, as you may well know, has many more people than England. But the next time the World Cup is broadcast live in primetime on American television, which should be in four years when it is hosted in Brazil, American television numbers will undoubtedly be substantially higher than any nation in Europe’s. According to Media Life Magazine, ratings on U.S. television are up 80% from the 2006 World Cup (of course, this is helped so far by both Mexico and the U.S. having played already). The rising trend will continue, and it will help if many games aren’t kicking off at 4.30am on the west coast.

Which I guess is one indication of the growth of the sport here and the demographics that justifies this piece in the New Republic:

The problem for England is that, in another couple of decades, the U.S. will have a reasonable soccer history of its own, and its population isn’t getting smaller, and its economy isn’t likely to, either. Advantage: USA. Ditto for other former soccer minnows, African and Asian sides included. The reality for the St. George’s Cross brigades is that, while England will remain in the second half of the first division of soccer nations, it’s going to have more company there down the road. Winning a World Cup is by no means a predictable venture, requiring as it does sustained player health, favorable elimination-round match-ups, and the occasional good bounce, errant red card or well-timed opponent meltdown. But the odds of little England winning a World Cup are only going to get longer as the quadrennials march on.

Seems a little low as it doesn’t show the number of people who watched the games at a bar. Countless bars across America were packed full of people (I can vouch for NYC), so that might be another factor numbers seem low.

interesting. the bar thing is a good point. in san antonio there were at least 300 people at a local movie theater sponsored by our soccer supporters group “The Crocketteers”. who knows how many more at the local pubs. love the site.

June 14, 2010 at 8:31 amMat

It’s time for the Three Lions to get over it, and go with a British side.

June 14, 2010 at 10:21 amBobby

Scotland would never, ever accept a British side. Doubt the FAW and IFA would be too thrilled about it either.

Bar thing is a great point, people were packed in like sardines in bars here. Parking spaces were all taken by 9 am EDT.

June 14, 2010 at 11:16 amBen

This bodes well for the USA’s World Cup bid. Ticket sales from the States were larger than anywhere but South Africa and now this for TV ratings. Too many dollars waiting here for FIFA to ignore.

June 14, 2010 at 12:23 pmAdrian Ludbrook

Mat – never! We are England, not Great Britain. I’m quite sure the other home nations would have the same strong feelings, particularly the Scots due to the colourful history of England vs Scotland home nation clashes over the years. We are all proud nations, and very different people.

Let’s put the boot on the other foot, what if I suggested the USA merge with Canada and form a ‘North American’ team? Makes sense, MLS covers the same geographical area. Maybe even add Puerto Rico in the mix, they play in the USSF and could lay claim to a North American team. Would you be happy with that? The ‘U-S-A’ chant gone for ever. Probably not and to the same end I want to chant ‘En-ger-land!’

As for bars, the game was broadcast in the UK on terrestrial national TV, not satellite or cable pay TV, so every pub / bar / snooker hall / social club etc in the country had the game on as well as loads of big screens showing the game in parks and town squares. Ours got cancelled, they were expecting 20,000 and the police pulled the plug on it – typical old bill! Anyway cut ot the chase, I think the bar factor would be higher on IK viewing figures than US as every red-blooded Englishman worth his salt would have been watching in the pub – and that includes me.